Electrical fixture



March 3, 1942- R. Kos'rAL 2,274,798

" ELECTRICAL FIXTURE Filed Feb. 24, 1940 3 nventor l@Rudlph Mi# PatentedMar. 3,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE Rudolph Kostal, Ajo, Ariz.

Application February 24, 1940, -Serial No. 320,575

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical xtures and more particularly todetachable push in plugs and sockets for electrical conductors or wires.

It is an object of the invention to provide me- A will be understoodfrom the following detailed description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticalsection of a two part electrical fixture containing a preferredembodiment 'of the present invention, the electrodes thereof beingin anopen detached position with respect to each other.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the electrodes inelectrical communication or contact with each other and also releasablyjoined together for mechanical functions.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure3.

As heretofore practiced in the art plugs having push in electrodes forattachment thereto at one end thereof of energy conveying wires and aheavy fixture, lamp cord, flat iron or the like at the other ends ofsaid wires often through inadvertence, accident or mistake becomedetached from their receiving sockets or receptacles through theoperator accidentally jerking or pulling on the cord while operating anelectrical instrumentality, at iron or the like which is not onlyannoying but also consuming time and labor in replacing the plug and thepresent invention contemplates providingmeans for obviating theundesirable practices of the prior art.

, Also as heretofore practiced an operator in detaching a plug from itssocket often pulls on the line wires or instrumentality attached theretoinstead of the-plug for said purpose, whereby the ends of the wiresbecome torn from or detached trical wires which are attached to saidplug but which may be readily and intentionally manually adjusted fordetaching purposes. l Referring now to the drawing for a more particulardescription the plug and socket fixture of the present invention isformed wherever necessary or desirable of insulating material such asartificial rubber, Bakelite" or the like. The socketincludes a housingI0 having an annularly disposed well or recess II provided between itsside wall and a medially positioned core I2. The core may be attached byany suitable means to a metallic .sleeve I3, the latter in turn beingformed integral with a cap I4.

The exterior wall of the housing I0 is provided with a metallicannularly disposed ferrule I5 formed with screw threads whereby it maybe operatively engaged with any electrical device' havingcorrespondingly shaped threads adapted to receive and cooperate with thethreads of the ferrule I5 for mechanical attachment and for closing acircuit through said threads.

Disposed within the well II and in electrical communication with theferrule I5 an elongated electrode I6 is provided having an inwardlydisposed lug I1 for purposes later described.

A similar electrode I8 is also disposed in said well and in insulatedrelation with respect to the electrode'IB and is provided with a similarlug I9. The electrode I8 extends through a cover 20 for. an end of thehousing I0 and is in electrical communication with the cap I4. The cover2|! and the cap I4 are each provided with acentrally disposed aperturethrough each of which the sleeve I3 extends.

The open end of the well II is provided with an outwardly flared annularflange 2I and the core I2 is provided with abeveled surface 22 at itsend opposite to the sleeve receiving end. The walls of the free end ofthe core converge towards each other, whereby the well II is providedwith a flared mouth adapted to facilitate guiding later describedresilient electrodes of the plug into said well.

The main body portion 23 of the plug is prol vided with acentrallydisposed recess 24 and a bore 25 in communication therewith, said boreextending through the plug 23. The plug is preferably provided with anannular shoulder 26 which cooperates with an inwardly extending flange21 -of an annularly disposed boss 28 in preventing an outward movementofthe plug 23 with respect to said boss in one direction and isprevented from moving in an opposite direction with respect to the bossby means of a transversely disposed wall of insulation 29, having acollar 30 disposedat a right angle with respect to the portion 29. ThecollarA 30 and wall 29 are formed integral, said collar having innerannular screw threads which cooperate with correspondingly shaped screwthreads positioned on the outer perimeter of the boss 28, whereby attimes when the parts are assembled in an operating position as shown inFigures 1 and 3, the boss 28 and the body 23 of the plug are securedtogether.

'I'he wall 29 is provided with a medially disposed aperture 3I which, asbest shown in Figures 2 and 4, is of oval shape in plan and whichtogether with the wall 29' and collar 30 provide a switch for laterdescribed mechanical and electrical purposes.

Oppositely disposed resilient electrodes 32 and 33 are secured at theirends by any suitable means such as tubular rivets to the main bodyportion of the plug, said ends are positioned within the recess 24 asshown in Figure 1. Each electrode 32 and 33 is provided with a screwsimilar to the screw 34 whereby the ends of electrical line wires, notshown, may be attached to the screws 34 in a well known manner, eachsaid wire being then in electrical communication with its respectiveelectrode 32 and 33.

The electrodes 32 and 33 are formed of suitable resilient material suchas spring brass or the like and extend outwardly of the main bodyportion of the plug being provided, as best shown in Figure 3, each withan aperture such as the aperture or receptacle 35 which extendstransversely through or is let into said electrodes adjacent their freeends.

,The apertures A35 are adapted to receive respective lugs I1 and I9 ofthe electrodesl I6 and I8 of4 the socket for locking the electrodes I'Iand 32 together and also the electrodes I1 and 33 whereby saidelectrodes are adapted to perform their electrical functions in closinga circuit and in addition -thereto the mechanical function of preventinga separation of said electrodes and the two main parts of the iixtureexcept at times desired and governed by the operator.

The free ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 normally spring outwardly anddivergently with respect to each other, being urged thereto by theinherent resiliency and shape thereof.

At times when the major axis of the oval shaped aperture 3| of theswitch wall 29 is turned to substantially a parallel position withrespect to the alignment of the electrodes 32 and 33 or moreparticularly the apertures 35 thereof the said electrodes are permittedto mo've outwardly with respect to each other as to the free endsthereof and at times when so moved said free ends may be inserted intothe well II for positioning the apertures 35 of said ends in alignmentwith respective lugs I'I and .I9 of the electrodes I8 and I8 of thesocket orhousing III. The inner annular surface of the flange 2lfunctions to guide the free ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 into thewell and the free ends of the electrodes I 6. and I8 are each preferablyprovided with oir-set outwardly flared end portions 36, said oi-sets andiiange are adapted to compress the free ends of the electrodes 32 and-33- towards each other and guide the electrodes 32 and 33 into the wellwhereby when released said electrodes are each adapted to spring into aposition of engagement with respective lugs II and I9.

Preferably and at times when it is desired to `attach the plug to thesocket the switch member 29 is turned or rotated upon its threads orsupvpot to the position shown in Figure 2. Thus the minor axis of theoval shaped aperture 3l is substantially in parallelism with thealignment of the electrodes 32 and 33 for contracting the free ends ofsaid electrodes towards each other and holding the same in said positionas shown in Figures 1 and 2. While the electrodes 32 and 33 are beinginserted into the well II of the housing and at times when the maioraxis of said oval is in said alignment as shown in Figure' 4 and attimes when the free ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 are at an extremeoutward position with respect to each other the beveled wall or flange2I guides said free ends inwardly of the well II, moving said endstowards each other. When the member 29 is in abutting relation with theopen end of the housing I9 the member 29 is then rotated approximately90 degrees for permitting the free ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 tospring v outwardly with respect to each other. Thus the lugs I1 and I9of the electrodes I8 and I8 are engaged within the apertures 35 adjacentthe free ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 for locking the parts togetherin a non-removable manner, except at times when the member 29 is rotatedto permit the same by moving said electrodes towards each other and awayfrom the lugs I1 Iand I9.

It will be understood that line wires, not shown, extend to the cap I4and are in electrical communication therewith and also the member I5together with the electrodes I6 and I8, respectively, said line wiresmay be incorporated into any suitable electrical fixture that isprovided with threads for engaging the threads of the member I5 wherebythere is provided an electrical circuit closed through said line wires,the

cap I4, the ferrule I5, electrodes I6 and I8.

lugs II and I9, electrodes 32 and 33,l the screws 34 of the latter andthe wires attached to said screws and the said circuit may be opened byrotating the switch member 29 or closed by said rotation.

By this means the housing I0 may be screwed into a ceiling pocket and acomparatively heavy fixture or lamp adequately suspended by theinsulated wires which extend through the bore 25 of the plug, accidentaldetachment of the plug 0f this invention from the socket thereof beingprevented.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of construction and design of the above specifically describedembodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof,such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of theinvention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A plug for an electrical socket provided with two electrodes eachhaving a detent element insulated with respect to each other, said plugcomprising a body member provided with two electrodes each having ameans adapted to cooperate with a detent element of said socket forlocking each electrode of said socket with one of the electrodes of theplug for providing locked electrical communication between contactingelectrodes, the electrodes of the plug arranged in insulated relationwith respect to each other, and rotatable means carried by the plug forreleasing said locked communication, said rotatable means including arotatable plate provided with an oval shaped opening having a major anda minor axis, said opening receiving the electrodes of the plugtherethrough and in one position of the plate the walls adjacent theminor axis of the opening engaging the electrodes of the plug todisengage them from the detent elements while in another position of theplate the electrodes of the plug engage the detent elements.

2. In an electrical fixture having a socket with locking means on theelectrodes, aI plug having resilient electrodes insulated with respectto each other, said plug electrodes having free ends normally urged awayfrom each other, said free ends provided with means engageable With thelocking means of the socket to establish electrical communicationtherewith, rotatable means carried by the plug to contract the resilientelectrodes for releasing same from locked position, said meanscomprising a'plate having an opening of variable diameter, and meanscarried by the socket so constructed and arranged as to guide the plugelectrodes into locking engagement with the locking means of the socketelectrodes when the plug electrodes are engaged by the walls of theopening adjacent the larger diameter of the plate opening.

3. In an electrical xture having a socket with electrodesdisposedtherein, a plug having normally urged apart electrodes inlocking engagement with the socket electrodes, anda plate rotatablycarried by said plug, said plate having an oval shaped Vopening providedwith a major axis and a minor axis, the walls adjacent the minor axis ofythe opening having direct contact with the plug electrodes in oneposition of the plate to urge them towards each other and out of lockingengagement with the socket electrodes.

4. A plug having resilient electrodes adapted to be removably locked -tothe electrodes of a socket comprising a main body portion having anannular shoulder, an annular boss encircling the main body portion andhaving an inwardly extending flange cooperating with said shoulder ytoprevent movement of the main body portion in one direction, a platedisposed across one end of said main body portion adjacent said shoulderto prevent movement of the main body portion in the opposite direction,said plate being rotatable on said plug and having an annular skirtencircling said boss, cooperatingthreads on said boss and the flange ofsaid plate, said plate having an opening through which the plugelectrodes pass, the opening in said plate being of variable diameter,said plate in one of its positions having the Walls of its openingbearing against said plug electrodes to contract them out of lockingengagement with the socket electrodes and in another position to permitthe resiliency of the plug electrodes to come into play so that the plugelectrodes have locking engagement with the socket electrodes.

' RUDOLPH KOSTAL.

